South African Racialism essays

South African Racialism essays Racialism Research Assignment ________________________________________ Hypothesis: that racialism began to develop in South Africa when the Dutch first arrived. It gradually worsened as the white population took advantage of the native Blacks, and the government system of Apartheid was introduced, despite attempts to alleviate it such as protests and rallies. Finally, in the latter part of the twentieth century outside pressure forced the Apartheid system to disappear and South Africas first black president emerged. Racialism began to develop in South Africa when the first white settlement was founded in 1652, which was established by the Dutch East India Company. However, shortage of labour quickly led to two decisions that were to have far-reaching consequences on South Africas history (Encarta Encyclopaedia, (2000): South Africa, Republic of). One of the decisions was the allowed use of slave labour, which originally involved imported workers from India and Indonesia, but as importation can be a costly business, and some labourers fall ill on the voyages, it wasnt long until some the local black populace was doing the Dutchs work. The other decision was former company servants were allowed to become free burghers (Encarta Encyclopaedia, (2000): South Africa, Republic of), which meant they were allowed to set up farms outside of the settlement. These farmers eventually became known as Boers. Many of the early Dutch settlers were devout Calvinists, who believe in predestination. Predestination is the eternal destiny of a person is predetermined by God's unchangeable decree (Encarta Encyclopaedia, (2000): Predestination). Unfortunately for the Negroes of South Africa, it was interpreted that the black mans destination was eternal damnation, and that they were less than the white man. We call predestination God...